EFFECTS OF ROTARY SWAGING ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 2024 ALUMINUM TUBES

Rotary swaging is a process usually applied to reduce the entire or local diameter and size of rods and tubes. The effects of the rotary swaging process and subsequent T6 heat treatment are investigated in this research. The results show that rotary swaging process refines grain size, decreases the eutectic phase fraction, enhances mechanical strength, and decreases mechanical elongation. After suitable T6 heat treatment, the as-swaged 2024 tube had the highest tensile strength; its yield stress reached about 350 MPa. The factors that affect mechanical properties are remaining residual stress, internal defects, precipitation, and grain size refinement. This study proves that rotary swaging process improves mechanical strength in addition to reducing dimensions